Light-emitting diode

ABSTRACT

A light-emitting diode is provided. The light-emitting diode comprises: a first light-emitting structure, comprising: a first area; a second area; a first isolation path having an electrode isolation layer between the first area and the second area; an electrode contact layer covering the first area; and an electrical connecting structure covering the second area; wherein each of the first area and the second area sequentially comprises a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer, and the electrode contact layer covers a sidewall of the first area.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of a previously filedU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/959,891 filed on Aug. 6, 2013,entitled as “LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE ARRAY”, which claims the right ofpriority based on Taiwan Patent Application No. 101128394 entitled“LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE ARRAY”, filed on Aug. 6, 2012. The disclosures ofall references cited herein are incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to a light-emitting device anda manufacturing method of the same, and more particularly to alight-emitting diode having an electrode insulation layer structure anda manufacturing method of the same to alleviate the current leakageproblems.

BACKGROUND

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) semiconductor devices that are widely usedas light sources. Compared to conventional incandescent light lamps orfluorescent light tubes, light-emitting diodes have lower powerconsumption and longer lifetime, hence they gradually replace theconventional light sources and are applied to various fields such astraffic lights, back light modules, street lighting, and medicalequipment.

As the demand for the brightness of light-emitting diodes is gettinghigher as the applications and developments evolve, it is a common goalfor LED industry to make efforts to increase luminescence efficiency andbrightness.

FIG. 14 shows a conventional LED package 300 of a semiconductor lightingdevice comprising the semiconductor LED chip 2 encapsulated in theencapsulation 1, wherein the semiconductor LED chip 2 comprises a p-njunction 3, and the encapsulation 1 is usually made of thermosettingmaterial, such as epoxy, or thermoplastic material. The semiconductorLED chip 2 is connected to two conductive frames 5, 6 by a wire 4. Theepoxy-encapsulated LED can only work in a low temperature environmentsince degradation of epoxy can occur at high temperature. Besides, epoxyhas high thermal resistance, providing the semiconductor LED chip 2, asshown in FIG. 14, a high resistance to heat dissipation, thus limitingthe conventional LED package 300 to work at low power level.

SUMMARY

A light-emitting diode is provided. The light-emitting diode comprises:a first light-emitting structure, comprising: a first area; a secondarea; a first isolation path having an electrode isolation layer betweenthe first area and the second area; an electrode contact layer coveringthe first area; and an electrical connecting structure covering thesecond area; wherein each of the first area and the second areasequentially comprises a first conductive type semiconductor layer, anactive layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer, and theelectrode contact layer covers a sidewall of the first area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisapplication will become more readily appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed description,when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1-12 illustrate a cross-sectional view of a light-emitting diodearray during a manufacturing process in accordance with the firstembodiment of the present application;

FIG. 13 illustrates a top view of a light-emitting diode array inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present application; and

FIG. 14 illustrates a conventional LED package of a semiconductorlighting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The first embodiment of the present application is illustrated in FIG. 1to FIG. 12.

The structure and manufacturing process of the light-emitting diodearray 1000 in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentapplication are as follows. Referring to FIG. 1, a growth substrate 10such as GaAs substrate is provided, and a plurality of light-emittingdiodes 100, 200 are directly grown on the substrate by epitaxy, as shownin FIGS. 2 to 12. The number of the light-emitting diodes of the presentembodiment is, but not limited to, two. Each of the light-emittingdiodes comprises a first conductive type contact layer 11, a firstconductive type semiconductor layer 12, an active layer 13, and a secondconductive type semiconductor layer 14, as shown in FIG. 2. The firstconductive type contact layer 11 can be n-type GaAs. The material of thefirst conductive type semiconductor layer 12, the active layer 13, andthe second conductive type semiconductor layer 14 comprises one or moreelements selected from the group consisting of Ga, Al, In, As, P, N, Si,and the combination thereof. For example, the material comprises GaP orAlGaInP.

An electrode structure is formed on a selected region of the secondconductive type semiconductor layer 14 by evaporation. The electrodestructure comprises one second electrical electrode 15 b and a pluralityof second electrical extension electrodes 15 c. Referring to FIGS. 3 to4, a temporary substrate 16 is formed on these electrodes, and then thegrowth substrate 10 is removed, wherein the temporary substrate 16 canbe glass. A plurality of dot structures are formed by removing partialof the first conductive type contact layer 11 through lithography andetching process, and a lower surface 12 a of the first conductive typesemiconductor layer 12 is exposed. An electrical contact layer 17 isformed under the partial lower surface 12 a and the plurality of dotstructures of the first conductive type contact layer 11, as shown inFIG. 5. A material of the above mentioned second electrical electrode 15b and the plurality of second electrical extension electrodes 15 c canbe metal materials, such as Cr, Ti, Ni, Pt, Cu, Au, Al, W, Sn or Ag. Amaterial of the electrical contact layer 17 can be Ge/Au.

A rough surface is formed by wet etching the lower surface 12 a of thefirst conductive semiconductor layer 12, as shown in FIG. 6. A permanentsubstrate 18 such as sapphire substrate is provided, and a bonding layer19 is formed on the permanent substrate 18 to form a structure as shownin FIG. 7; or a bonding layer 19 is formed on the lower surface 12 a ofthe first conductive type semiconductor layer 12 (not shown), and thenthe permanent substrate 18 is connected to the lower surface 12 a of thefirst conductive type semiconductor layer 12 through the bonding layer19. Referring to FIG. 8. the plurality of the dot structures of thefirst conductive type contact layer 11 and the electrical contact layer17 are between the lower surface 12 a of the first conductive typecontact layer 12 and the bonding layer 19 after the structure shown inFIG. 6 is connected to the structure shown in FIG. 7. The temporarysubstrate 16 is removed to expose the second electrical electrode 15 b,the plurality of second electrical extension electrodes 15 c, and a partof a top surface 14 a of the second conductive type semiconductor layer14, as shown in FIG. 9. Referring to FIG. 10, dry etching is used toremove part of the second conductive type semiconductor layer 14 to theactive layer 13 by inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching toexpose the partial surface of the first conductive type semiconductorlayer 12, so as to form a first isolation path 20 and a second isolationpath 21, wherein the first isolation path 20 separates the firstlight-emitting diode 100 into a first area 50A and a second area 50B,and a distance between the first area 50A and the second area 50B is notless than 25 μm. The second isolation path 21 is between the firstlight-emitting diode 100 and the second light-emitting diode 200,wherein the second light-emitting diode 200 comprises a semiconductorstack layer comprising a part of the second conductive typesemiconductor layer 14, a part of the active layer 13 and the firstconductive type semiconductor layer 12. The top surface 14 a of thesecond conductive type semiconductor layer 14 is roughened by dryetching or wet etching as FIG. 10 shows. Referring to FIG. 11, a part ofthe first conductive type semiconductor layer 12 in the second isolationpath 21 is removed by inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etchingagain. Different dry etching rates of the two dry etching processesrender the sidewalls of the second conductive type semiconductor layer14, the active layer 13, and the first conductive type semiconductorlayer 12 that are in the second isolation path 21 a stepped structure.

An electrode isolation layer 22 is formed along the sidewall of thesecond area 50B in the first isolation path 20 by evaporation method,and a height of the electrode isolation layer 22 is larger than that ofthe sidewall of the second area 50B. An isolation structure 23 is formedcontinuously along the sidewall of the second area 50B in the secondisolation path 21 and a part of the top surface of the second area 50B,and another isolation structure 23 is formed continuously along thesidewall of the second light-emitting diode 200 in the second isolationpath 21 and a part of the top surface of the second light-emitting diode200 by evaporation method. A material of the electrode isolation layer22 and the isolation structure 23 can be dielectric materials such assilicon oxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, ortitanium oxide. An electrode contact layer 26 covering the sidewall andthe top surface of the first area 50A is formed, and a material of theelectrode contact layer 26 can be Ti—Au. The electrode contact layer 26forms an electrical ohmic contact to the first conductive typesemiconductor layer 12 by electrical contact layer 17 since theelectrode contact layer 26 itself does not form ohmic contacts to thefirst conductive type semiconductor layer 12, the active layer 13, andthe second conductive type semiconductor layer 14 of the firstlight-emitting diode 100. An electrical connecting structure 24 isformed on the top and the sidewall of the isolation structure 23 in thesecond area 50B and on the bottom of the second isolation path 21. Thesecond conductive type semiconductor layer 14 of the firstlight-emitting diode 100 and the first conductive type semiconductorlayer 12 of the second light-emitting diode 200 are electricallyconnected in series through the electrical connecting structure 24 andthe electrical contact layer 17. A second electrical bonding pad 25 isthen formed on the second electrical electrode 15 b. Besides, theelectrode contact layer 26 can be a first electrical bonding pad. Thus,when the electrical contact layer 26 and the second electrical bondingpad 25 are electrically connected to an external power source (notshown), an current supplied by the external power source flows from theelectrode contact layer 26, through the first conductive typesemiconductor layer 12, the active layer 13, and the second conductivetype semiconductor layer 14 of the first light-emitting diode 100 due tothe electrical contact layer 17, and the current also flows to thesecond light-emitting diode 200 by the electrical connecting structure24. The electrode contact layer 26, the electrical connecting structure24 and the second electrical bonding pad 25 can be formed at the sametime by evaporation method, and the materials thereof can be the same.

A light-emitting diode array 1000 having two light-emitting diodes 100,200 connected in series is formed after the above manufacturing process.The light-emitting diode 100 is separated into the first area 50A andthe second area 50B by the first isolation path 20, wherein the firstarea 50A is covered by the electrode contact layer 26. The secondelectrical bonding pad 25 is on the partial top surface 14 a of thesecond light-emitting diode 200. The height of the top surface of theelectrode contact layer 26 can be the same as the height of the topsurface of the second electrical bonding pad 25.

FIG. 13 illustrates a top view of a light-emitting diode array 2000 inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present application. Thelight-emitting diode array 2000 of the present embodiment comprises aplurality of first light-emitting diodes 100 and a plurality of secondlight-emitting diodes 200 that are connected in series, and the totalnumber of light-emitting diodes is 10. Referring to FIG. 13, thelight-emitting diode array 2000 comprises a substrate 30 having a firstsurface 30 a; the 10 light-emitting diodes on the first surface 30 a andincluding the first light-emitting diodes 100 and the secondlight-emitting diodes 200; a plurality of conductive lines 40 on thefirst surface 30 a and electrically connected to the light-emittingdiodes; two electrical bonding pads 50, 60 on the first surface 30 a andelectrically connected to an external power source (not shown); and anisolation path 70 between one of the electrical bonding pads (such aselectrical bonding pad 50) and one of the light-emitting diodes, whereina distance between the bonding pad 50 and the light-emitting diode 100that are proximal to the isolation path 70 is not less than 25 μm.Furthermore, if the distance between the electrical bonding pad 50 andthe light-emitting diode 100 is too small, semiconductor materials areprone to remaining on the sidewall of the light-emitting diode duringthe light-emitting diode etching process, thereby resulting in a currentleakage problem. In order to alleviate the current leakage problem, anelectrode isolation layer 80 is formed in the isolation path 70 and onthe sidewall of the light-emitting diode. The substrate 30 is a carrierand comprises a conductive substrate, a non-conductive substrate, atransparent substrate or a non-transparent substrate.

The first conductive type semiconductor layer 12 and the secondconductive type semiconductor layer 14 are different in electricity,polarity or dopant, or are different in semiconductor materials used forproviding electrons or holes, wherein the semiconductor materials can bea single semiconductor material layer or multiple semiconductor materiallayers. The polarity can be chosen from any two of the group consistingof p-type, n-type and i-type. The active layer 13 where the electricalenergy and the light energy can be converted or stimulatively convertedis disposed between the first conductive type semiconductor layer 12 andthe second conductive type semiconductor layer 14.

The light-emitting diode spectrum of the embodiments in the presentapplication can be adjusted by changing the physical or chemical factorsof the single semiconductor material layer or the multiple semiconductormaterial layers. The material can be AlGaInP series, AlGaInN series, orZnO series. The structure of the active layer (not shown) can be singleheterostructure (SH), double heterostructure (DH), double-side doubleheterostructure (DDH) or multi-quantum well (MQW), wherein thewavelength of the light emitted from the active layer (not shown) can bechanged by adjusting the number of MQW pairs.

In one embodiment of the present application, a buffer layer (not shown)can be optionally disposed between the first conductive type contactlayer 11 and the growth substrate 10. The buffer layer is between twomaterial systems to make a transition between the material system of thesubstrate and the material system of the semiconductor layer. For thestructure of the light-emitting diode, the buffer layer is used toreduce the lattice mismatch between two materials. On the other hand,the buffer layer comprises a single layer, multiple layers or astructure which comprises two materials or two separated structures. Thematerial of the buffer layer can be organic material, inorganicmaterial, metal or semiconductor material. The structure of the bufferlayer can be a reflective layer, a thermally conductive layer, anelectrically conductive layer, an ohmic contact layer, ananti-deformation layer, a stress release layer, a bonding layer, astress adjustment layer, a wavelength conversion layer or a mechanicallyfixing structure. In one embodiment, the material of the buffer layercan be AlN, GaInP, InP, GaAs, AlAs or GaN, and the buffer layer can beformed by sputtering or atomic layer deposition (ALD).

A second conductive type contact layer (not shown) can be selectivelyformed on the second conductive type semiconductor layer 14. The secondconductive type contact layer is disposed on the side of the secondconductive type semiconductor layer 14 away from the active layer 13.More specifically, the second conductive type contact layer can be anoptical layer, an electrical layer, or the combination thereof Theoptical layer (not shown) can change the electromagnetic radiation orthe light from or entering the active layer 13, that is, the opticallayer can change at least one of the optical properties of theelectromagnetic radiation or the light, wherein the optical propertiescomprises, but is not limited to frequency, wavelength, intensity, flux,efficiency, color temperature, rendering index, light field and angle ofview. The electrical layer can change the value, density anddistribution of the voltage, resistance, current and capacitance of anytwo opposite sides of the second conductive type contact layer. Thematerial of the second conductivity type contact layer comprises oxidesuch as conductive oxide, transparent oxide and the oxide with atransparency not less than 50%, or comprises metal such as transparentmetal and the metal with transparency not less than 50%, or comprisesorganic material, inorganic material, fluoresce material, phosphormaterial, ceramic, undoped semiconductor material or doped semiconductormaterial. In some aspects, the material of the second conductivity typecontact layer can be indium tin oxide, cadmium tin oxide, antimony tinoxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, or zinc tin oxide. If thematerial of the second conductivity type contact layer is transparentmetal, the thickness of the second conductivity type contact layerranges from 0.005 μm to 0.6 μm.

It will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art thatvarious modifications and variations can be made to the devices inaccordance with the present application without departing from the scopeor spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intendedthat the present application covers modifications and variations of thisdisclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claimsand their equivalents.

Although the drawings and the illustrations above are corresponding tothe specific embodiments individually, the element, the practicingmethod, the designing principle, and the technical theory can bereferred, exchanged, incorporated, collocated, coordinated except theyare conflicted, incompatible, or hard to be put into practice together.

Although the present application has been explained above, it is not thelimitation of the range, the sequence in practice, the material inpractice, or the method in practice. Any modification or decoration forpresent application is not detached from the spirit and the range ofsuch.

We claim:
 1. A light-emitting diode, comprising: a first light-emittingstructure, comprising: a first area; a second area; a first isolationpath having an electrode isolation layer between the first area and thesecond area; an electrode contact layer covering the first area; and anelectrical connecting structure covering the second area; wherein eachof the first area and the second area sequentially comprises a firstconductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a secondconductive type semiconductor layer, and the electrode contact layercovers a sidewall of the first area.
 2. The light-emitting diodeaccording to claim 1, further comprising a second light-emittingstructure comprising a semiconductor stack layer and a second electricalbonding pad on the semiconductor stack layer, wherein the semiconductorstack layer sequentially comprises a first conductive type semiconductorlayer, an active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductorlayer.
 3. The light-emitting diode according to claim 2, furthercomprising a second isolation path between the first light-emittingstructure and the second light-emitting structure, wherein theelectrical connecting structure extends into the second isolation pathand electrically connects to the first light-emitting structure and thesecond light-emitting structure.
 4. The light-emitting diode accordingto claim 3, further comprising a first isolation structure and a secondisolation structure in the second isolation path.
 5. The light-emittingdiode according to claim 4, wherein in a cross-sectional view of thelight-emitting diode, the first isolation structure and the secondisolation structure are separated by the electrical connectingstructure.
 6. The light-emitting diode according to claim 4, wherein theelectrical connecting structure covers along the first isolationstructure.
 7. The light-emitting diode according to claim 3, wherein thesecond isolation path separates the second conductive type semiconductorlayer of the second area from the second conductive type semiconductorlayer of the second light-emitting structure, separates the active layerof the second area from the active layer of the second light-emittingstructure and separates the first conductive type semiconductor layer ofthe second area from the first conductive type semiconductor layer ofthe second light-emitting structure.
 8. The light-emitting diodeaccording to claim 2, wherein the electrode contact layer and the secondelectrical bonding pad respectively comprise a top surface, wherein thetop surfaces have the same height.
 9. The light-emitting diode accordingto claim 1, further comprising an electrical contact layer under theelectrical connecting structure, wherein the electrical contact layerdirectly contacts the electrical connecting structure.
 10. Thelight-emitting diode according to claim 9, wherein the electricalcontact layer is under the electrode contact layer and directly contactsthe electrode contact layer.
 11. The light-emitting diode according toclaim 9, wherein the electrode contact layer covers along a side wall ofthe first conductive type semiconductor layer, a side wall of the activelayer and a side wall of the second conductive type semiconductor layerof the first area to directly contact the electrical contact layer. 12.The light-emitting diode according to claim 1, further comprising asubstrate below the first area and the second area.
 13. Thelight-emitting diode according to claim 12, further comprising a bondinglayer between the substrate and the first area and between the substrateand the second area.
 14. The light-emitting diode according to claim 1,wherein the electrode contact layer covers an upper surface of thesecond conductive type semiconductor layer of the first area, extendsinto the first isolation path and covers along a side wall of the activelayer of the first area in the first isolation path, and along a sidewall of the second conductive type semiconductor layer of the first areain the first isolation path.
 15. The light-emitting diode according toclaim 1, wherein the first isolation path separates the secondconductive type semiconductor layer of the first area from the secondconductive type semiconductor layer of the second area, separates theactive layer of the first area from the active layer of the second area.16. The light-emitting diode according to claim 1, wherein a distancebetween the first area and the second area is not less than 25 μm.